“Abundance isn’t God’s provision for me to live in luxury. It’s His provision for me to helps others live.” -Randy Alcorn
On Saturday, October 3rd, 2015, Life Leadership Members organized a Life on Life Initiative at Kingdom House in St. Louis, Missouri. Approximately 40 volunteers utilized their time and talents to help with multiple projects both in and around the ministry’s campus.
What is Kingdom House?
Kingdom House’s mission is to help people achieve better lives by teaching people to fish, rather than just feeding them fish.
Kingdom House believes that change begins through empowerment and growth in individuals and families. They help the economically disadvantaged achieve economic independence, self-sufficiency and a path out of poverty.
Kingdom House believes in transformation, from the inside out. Their ministry supports a variety of services – childcare, food & clothing assistance, youth and teen programs and Senior Companions. Kingdom House helps thousands of people yearly to achieve self-sufficiency and gain economic independence.
Kingdom House was founded in 1902 as a settlement house by a shoe manufacturing executive who wanted to help the poor, many of whom were immigrants. The settlement house movement was popular at this time, spreading across the United States. Unrelated middle-class women and men lived cooperatively as “settlers” who hoped to share knowledge and culture with their low-paid, poorly educated neighbors. They provided services such as daycare, education and healthcare in an effort to alleviate poverty. More than 100 years after their founding, Kingdom House continues to provide critical social services to the poorest of the poor in St. Louis.
The Life Leadership volunteers helped by adding a fresh coat of paint to the fence encircling Kingdom House’s campus. Others completed seasonal exterior maintenance by cleaning up and composting leaves. Inside, volunteers sorted clothes within the thrift store and organized canned good donations within the food bank. In preparation for the Christmas season, volunteers donated socks and underclothing for needy families in the south St. Louis area.
By volunteering their time and talents, Life Leadership members were able to assist in clearing the path for Kingdom House to focus on their mission of teaching people to fish.
“The Life on Life Initiative made a difference at Kingdom House by helping prepare us for Fall and Winter. They assisted with change-of-season projects, such as switching out the summer clothing in our Thrift Store, touching up the paint along our Daycare fence, and sorting food donations for our Food Pantry. They also generously donated new socks and underwear to be distributed to the families we serve at our annual Christmas Shop. Thanks to the Life on Life Initiative, we’re ready for the change of season!” – Julie Strassman – (Volunteer Engagement Associate at Kingdom House)
“I loved getting out into the community as a group to lend a helping hand. I’ve lived in St. Louis my whole life and I didn’t know about kingdom house. It was an eye-opening and humbling experience to serve those who have a different reality than my own.” – Emily Nissing (Life Leadership Member)
“It was an amazing opportunity to get together as a team and really match two organizations with the same mission…what an amazing day of servant leadership..” – Jennifer Payne (Life Leadership Member)
Life Leadership is very proud of everyone who participated from Maximus 360, under the leadership of Mark and Rita Haas. Thank you for caring enough to get involved in order to further expand The Kingdom.
If you participated in this Life on Life Initiative, please be sure to leave a comment below on how the experience impacted you!
Life Leadership: Setting People Free
Lloyd Weiler says
So awesome to have you guys serve like that!! Thank you and may God bless your efforts!!
Robby Palmer says
Absolutely love it!
Nicole says
Such a great cause!!!! Nothing like teamwork to get things done!
Chris Brady says
Well done guys! Keep up the great service!
CB
Cathy K says
Awesome job, Maximus 360! What a good way to maximize efforts (pun intended) to families in your area.
Ryan Fronick says
This experience was educational and motivating for my wife and I. We highly encourage anyone reading this to find a way to contribute to their community…to whom much is given, much is required!
Rita Haas says
Great job St Louis! Serving the community.